Self-learning bluetooth infotainment connectivity

ABSTRACT

A wireless connectivity arrangement for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle includes a user profile manager storing associations between users of the motor vehicle and respective personal electronic devices. A wireless connection manager is communicatively coupled to the user profile manager. The wireless connection manager detects that a personal electronic device is in a vicinity of the vehicle, and refers to the user profile manager to determine whether the personal electronic device is a primary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/554,065 filed on Sep. 5, 2017, which the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to an infotainment system in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current personal electronic devices and infotainment head units getconnected if they have been paired previously, without paying attentionto a different user preference. If a device and a head unit are close toeach other, then they automatically get connected, sometimes overridingexisting connections. Self-learning Bluetooth infotainment connectivitydoes not exist on current systems. As currently there is growing needfor multiple device connectivity and on different protocols/profileswith Bluetooth interface, there is consequently the need forself-learning Bluetooth infotainment connectivity.

Current systems basically have few rules defined, and may allow amaximum of two devices to be connected at a time. One device may be foraudio and the other device may be for telephone.

The priority of using a Bluetooth interface for using apps from devicesand allowing audio/phone connections while using Android auto/AppleCar-play are very scarcely defined and more often than not lead toambiguous connections. More precisely, sometimes Bluetooth devices thatare in the vicinity of the car get connected to the car although thedevices are not being used by any of the vehicle occupants. This resultsin inadvertent connection and results in a poor user experience. Forexample, a user may be in an active call at his residence but mayexperience an audio blackout in his cellphone because the audio getstransferred to the vehicle when the vehicle is operated by a differentuser.

The key flow areas of current systems may include biometric technologiesincluding fingerprinting and facial recognition, which are being used inthe cars to identify drivers.

The key flow areas of current systems may also include automotive headunits maintaining a list of Bluetooth devices that have been paired. Thehead unit connects to one of the paired devices that is in the vicinity.The user has an option to specify one of the devices as a favoritedevice. When there is only one paired device in the vicinity, the headunit connects to that device. When there is more than one paired devicein the vicinity, the head unit connects to the favorite device if it isavailable, or connects to one of the devices based on an internalpriority mechanism, such as a list of the order of paired devices, etc.

Yet another key flow area of current systems includes supporting a menuoption where the user can go and view the paired device list. This menualso allows user to change the connection to a different Bluetoothdevice that is available in the vicinity of the car.

Bluetooth stacks developed by different companies adhering to Bluetoothprotocols are available. Companies develop proprietary software on topof these Bluetooth stacks to provide needed functionalities.

With Bluetooth connectivity being readily available, there is noguarantee, which might override other connections, that a user will gointo the settings of each device and explicitly define Bluetooth profileconnections for the same. But, most importantly, in the case of ahands-free profile, there are observations which override current activeBluetooth-phone connections and allow for connection of anotherphone/device without regard for priority or preference. This lack ofregard for priority or preference makes it very frustrating and annoyingto use the feature with multiple devices.

SUMMARY

The present invention may provide self-learning phone Bluetoothconnectivity with automotive infotainment head units.

The present invention may learn and adapt to individuals' requests forBluetooth connections of various purposes, but especially for hands-freeprofile connections from different devices which may be strictly tied upwith specific user profile preferences. In order to achieve this, thesystem may record every connection made with a specific device and alsokeep a count of the connection requests. The system may also hold theuser profile preferred device at all times so as to compare the incomingconnection requests against the user profile preferred device and builda history of the user profile preferred device. Based on historical dataand the user profile preferred device, the system may suggest the userfor profile preference update.

Noteworthy are the media access control (MAC) identification of a deviceand the profile type of the connection request for recording/storing thehistorical data. Updating the user profile preference based onhistorical data may prevent the system from making connections that areunwanted by the user, or may enable the system to override theconnections. The system may inform the user of such incoming connectionswhich have not been recorded before and which are not part of the userprofile preference device.

The present invention may “learn” and associate the identification of apaired phone with the identification of the current driver. The userinterface may be modified to facilitate this learning process. Theactive driver identification of each device in the paired device listmay be maintained.

The phone identification that is associated with the identification ofthe current driver may be reviewed before deciding which paired phonethe vehicle system needs to connect to. In addition, the user interfacemay facilitate the learning process wherein the head unit can learn thedevice identification that is associated with the driver.

The automotive head unit may connect the Bluetooth device whoseidentification is associated with the identification of the currentdriver. If a Bluetooth device with an identification that is notassociated with the identification of the current driver is detected,the system may prompt the user to indicate whether he wants to go aheadwith the connection. This may ensure that the audio of a phone that isnot in the car does not get abruptly transferred to the car. Inaddition, the driver also may have an option to associate this phoneidentification with the identification of the current driver if hechooses to. The response of the user can be stored in the database forfurther learning.

If no phones in the paired device list of the vehicle are associatedwith the identification of the current driver and one of the paireddevices on the list is detected in the vicinity of the car, the user maybe prompted to associate the identification of the device with theidentification of the current driver prior to establishing theconnection. Whenever the user tries to select a different phone, theuser interface may provide the option to associate the identification ofthe phone with the identification of the currently active driver.

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a wireless connectivityarrangement for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle, including auser profile manager storing associations between users of the motorvehicle and respective personal electronic devices. A wirelessconnection manager is communicatively coupled to the user profilemanager. The wireless connection manager detects that a personalelectronic device is in a vicinity of the vehicle, and refers to theuser profile manager to determine whether the personal electronic deviceis a primary personal electronic device of a current user of thevehicle. If it is determined that the personal electronic device is aprimary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle,then the wireless connection manager automatically establishes awireless connection between the personal electronic devices and thevehicle. If it is determined that the personal electronic device is nota primary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle,then the wireless connection manager responds to a command from the userby establishing a wireless connection between the personal electronicdevice and the vehicle, and identifying the personal electronic deviceas a primary personal electronic device of the current user in the userprofile manager.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises a wireless connectivitymethod for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle, including storingassociations between users of the motor vehicle and respective personalelectronic devices. It is detected that a personal electronic device isin a vicinity of the vehicle. It is determined whether the personalelectronic device is a primary personal electronic device of a currentuser of the vehicle. If it is determined that the personal electronicdevice is a primary personal electronic device of a current user of thevehicle, a wireless connection between the personal electronic devicesand the vehicle is automatically established. If it is determined thatthe personal electronic device is not a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle, a command from the user isresponded to by establishing a wireless connection between the personalelectronic device and the vehicle, and storing in memory anidentification of the personal electronic device as a primary personalelectronic device of the current user.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a wirelessconnectivity arrangement for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle.The arrangement includes a user profile manager storing associationsbetween users of the motor vehicle and respective personal electronicdevices. A wireless connection history manager stores identifications ofones of the personal electronic devices that have been previouslywirelessly connected to the vehicle. A wireless connection manager iscommunicatively coupled to the user profile manager and to the wirelessconnection history manager. The wireless connection manager detects thata personal electronic device is near or in the vehicle. The wirelessconnection manager refers to the user profile manager to determinewhether the personal electronic device is a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle. If it is determined that thepersonal electronic device is a primary personal electronic device of acurrent user of the vehicle, the wireless connection managerautomatically wirelessly connects the personal electronic devices andthe vehicle. If it is determined that the personal electronic device isnot a primary personal electronic device of a current user of thevehicle, and if a first command is received from the user, the wirelessconnection manager responds to the first command from the user bywirelessly connecting the personal electronic device and the vehicle,and by identifying the personal electronic device as a primary personalelectronic device of the current user in the user profile manager. If itis determined that the personal electronic device is not a primarypersonal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle, and if asecond command is received from the user, the wireless connectionmanager responds to the second command from the user by wirelesslyconnecting the personal electronic device and the vehicle, andrefraining from identifying the personal electronic device as a primarypersonal electronic device of the current user in the user profilemanager.

An advantage of the present invention is that it may help avoid thestruggle of telephones being inadvertently connected with infotainmenthead units. By introducing self-learning, a personal electronic devicecan be associated with a user identification, and that relationship maybe kept active. However, an incoming connection request may not begranted, and the user may not be informed of the incoming connectionrequest.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be ideallyintegrated on top of Bluetooth stacks, providing much control indefining user preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had uponreference to the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one example embodiment of a Bluetoothconnectivity arrangement of the present invention for an infotainmentsystem of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a Bluetoothconnectivity method of the present invention for an infotainment systemof a motor vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a wirelessconnectivity method of the present invention for an infotainment systemof a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of a motor vehicle 10including a Bluetooth connectivity arrangement 12 of the presentinvention. Arrangement 12 includes an infotainment system 14 and a userprofile manager 16. Infotainment system 14 includes a Bluetoothconnection history manager 18 and a Bluetooth connection manager 20which may communicate with each other via Bluetooth service, asindicated at 22. Bluetooth connection history manager 18 may record thenumber of phone/audio/other connections per device and per profile, andmay store an identification of the preferred/primary device.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a Bluetoothconnectivity method 200 of the present invention for an infotainmentsystem of a motor vehicle. In a first step 202, it is determined whetherone of the devices determined to be nearby the vehicular infotainmentsystem is the current driver's primary personal electronic device. Ifso, then in step 204 the current driver's primary device is paired with,or connected to, the Bluetooth device. Next, in step 206, a database isupdated with connection details along with an identification of the userand an identification of the current driver's primary device.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that none of thedevices determined to be nearby the vehicular infotainment system is thecurrent driver's primary personal electronic device, then in step 208the user is presented with three options. A first option is to make aBluetooth connection between a device that is near or in the vehicle andthe vehicle itself. A second option is to not make a connection betweenthe device and the vehicle. The third option is to make the connectionbetween the device and the vehicle and to make or regard the device asthe driver's primary personal electronic device.

If the user chooses option 1, then operation proceeds to step 204 etal., as described above. If the user chooses option 2, then operationproceeds to step 210 where no action is taken. If the user choosesoption 3, then operation proceeds to step 212 wherein a Bluetoothconnection is made between the device and the vehicle, and the device ismade the driver's primary device. Operation then proceeds to step 206 asdescribed above.

In an alternative embodiment, the unwanted connections may be manuallyconnected/disconnected. Also, Bluetooth may be turned off on the deviceand trying to connect it back may be turned on.

FIG. 3 illustrates of one example embodiment of a wireless connectivitymethod 300 for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle. In a firststep 302, associations between users of the motor vehicle and respectivepersonal electronic devices are stored. For example, Bluetoothconnection history manager 18 may record identifications of users ofmotor vehicle 10 as well as an identification of each user's personalelectronic devices.

In a next step 304, it is detected that a personal electronic device isin a vicinity of the vehicle. For example, it may be determined viaBluetooth technology that one of the devices is nearby the vehicularinfotainment system.

Next, in step 306, it is determined whether the personal electronicdevice is a primary personal electronic device of a current user of thevehicle. For example, Bluetooth connection history manager 18 may bereferred to in order to determine whether the personal electronic deviceis recorded therein as a primary personal electronic device of anidentified current user of the vehicle.

In step 308, if it is determined that the personal electronic device isa primary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle,then a wireless connection between the personal electronic devices andthe vehicle is automatically established. For example, as in step 204,the current driver's primary device maybe automatically paired with, orconnected to, a Bluetooth device of motor vehicle 10.

In a final step 310, if it is determined that the personal electronicdevice is not a primary personal electronic device of a current user ofthe vehicle, then a command from the user is responded to byestablishing a wireless connection between the personal electronicdevice and the vehicle, and storing in memory an identification of thepersonal electronic device as a primary personal electronic device ofthe current user. For example, Bluetooth connection history manager 18may indicate that the personal electronic device is not recorded thereinas a primary personal electronic device of the identified current userof the vehicle. In response to a command from the user to do so, thedevice maybe automatically paired with the Bluetooth device of motorvehicle 10. Also, an identification of the personal electronic device asa primary personal electronic device of the user may be stored inBluetooth connection history manager 18.

The foregoing description may refer to “motor vehicle”, “automobile”,“automotive”, or similar expressions. It is to be understood that theseterms are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type oftransportation vehicle. Rather, the invention may be applied to any typeof transportation vehicle whether traveling by air, water, or ground,such as airplanes, boats, etc.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness ofunderstanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art uponreading this disclosure and may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless connectivity arrangement for aninfotainment system of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: auser profile manager configured to store associations between users ofthe motor vehicle and respective personal electronic devices; and awireless connection manager communicatively coupled to the user profilemanager, the wireless connection manager being configured to: detectthat a personal electronic device is in a vicinity of the vehicle; referto the user profile manager to determine whether the personal electronicdevice is a primary personal electronic device of a current user of thevehicle; if it is determined that the personal electronic device is aprimary personal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle,automatically establish a wireless connection between the personalelectronic devices and the vehicle; and if it is determined that thepersonal electronic device is not a primary personal electronic deviceof a current user of the vehicle, respond to a command from the user by:establishing a wireless connection between the personal electronicdevice and the vehicle; and identifying the personal electronic deviceas a primary personal electronic device of the current user in the userprofile manager.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising awireless connection history manager communicatively coupled to thewireless connection manager and configured to store identifications ofones of the personal electronic devices that have been previouslywirelessly connected to the vehicle.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2wherein the wireless connection history manager is configured to storetimes at which the personal electronic device has been previouslywirelessly connected to the vehicle.
 4. The arrangement of claim 1wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to, if it isdetermined that the personal electronic device is not a primary personalelectronic device of a current user of the vehicle, respond to a commandfrom the user by storing within the user profile manager an associationbetween the personal electronic device and the current user, wherein theassociation identifies the personal electronic device as the user'sprimary personal electronic device.
 5. The arrangement of claim 4wherein the association includes an identification of the personalelectronic device and an identification of the user.
 6. The arrangementof claim 1 wherein the command from the user comprises a command to makethe wireless connection, the wireless connection manager beingconfigured to respond to a command from the user to not make theconnection by not making the connection.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1wherein the current user of the vehicle is a current driver of thevehicle.
 8. A wireless connectivity method for an infotainment system ofa motor vehicle, the method comprising: storing associations betweenusers of the motor vehicle and respective personal electronic devices;detecting that a personal electronic device is in a vicinity of thevehicle; determining whether the personal electronic device is a primarypersonal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle; if it isdetermined that the personal electronic device is a primary personalelectronic device of a current user of the vehicle, automaticallyestablishing a wireless connection between the personal electronicdevices and the vehicle; and if it is determined that the personalelectronic device is not a primary personal electronic device of acurrent user of the vehicle, responding to a command from the user by:establishing a wireless connection between the personal electronicdevice and the vehicle; and storing in memory an identification of thepersonal electronic device as a primary personal electronic device ofthe current user.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing inmemory identifications of ones of the personal electronic devices thathave been previously wirelessly connected to the vehicle.
 10. The methodof claim 9 further comprising storing in memory times at which thepersonal electronic device has been previously wirelessly connected tothe vehicle.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein, if it is determined thatthe personal electronic device is not a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle, a command from the user isresponded to by storing in memory an association between the personalelectronic device and the current user, wherein the associationidentifies the personal electronic device as the user's primary personalelectronic device.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the associationincludes an identification of the personal electronic device and anidentification of the user.
 13. The method of claim 8 wherein thecommand from the user comprises a command to make the wirelessconnection, the method further comprising responding to a command fromthe user to not make the connection by not making the connection. 14.The method of claim 8 wherein the current user of the vehicle is acurrent driver of the vehicle.
 15. A wireless connectivity arrangementfor an infotainment system of a motor vehicle, the arrangementcomprising: a user profile manager configured to store associationsbetween users of the motor vehicle and respective personal electronicdevices; a wireless connection history manager configured to storeidentifications of ones of the personal electronic devices that havebeen previously wirelessly connected to the vehicle; and a wirelessconnection manager communicatively coupled to the user profile managerand the wireless connection history manager, the wireless connectionmanager being configured to: detect that a personal electronic device isnear or in the vehicle; refer to the user profile manager to determinewhether the personal electronic device is a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle; if it is determined that thepersonal electronic device is a primary personal electronic device of acurrent user of the vehicle, automatically wirelessly connect thepersonal electronic devices and the vehicle; if it is determined thatthe personal electronic device is not a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle, and if a first command isreceived from the user, respond to the first command from the user by:wirelessly connecting the personal electronic device and the vehicle;and identifying the personal electronic device as a primary personalelectronic device of the current user in the user profile manager, andif it is determined that the personal electronic device is not a primarypersonal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle, and if asecond command is received from the user, respond to the second commandfrom the user by: wirelessly connecting the personal electronic deviceand the vehicle; and refrain from identifying the personal electronicdevice as a primary personal electronic device of the current user inthe user profile manager.
 16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein thewireless connection history manager is configured to store times atwhich the personal electronic device has been previously wirelesslyconnected to the vehicle.
 17. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein thewireless connection manager is configured to, if it is determined thatthe personal electronic device is not a primary personal electronicdevice of a current user of the vehicle, respond to the first commandfrom the user by storing within the user profile manager an associationbetween the personal electronic device and the current user, wherein theassociation identifies the personal electronic device as the user'sprimary personal electronic device.
 18. The arrangement of claim 17wherein the association includes an identification of the personalelectronic device and an identification of the user.
 19. The arrangementof claim 15 wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to, ifit is determined that the personal electronic device is not a primarypersonal electronic device of a current user of the vehicle, respond toa third command from the user by not making the connection between thepersonal electronic device and the vehicle.
 20. The arrangement of claim15 wherein the current user of the vehicle is a current driver of thevehicle.